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Nothing adds instant style and enhances an outfit quite like a hat.It can take a basic outfit to effortlessly cool, which is why they are great for travel. They are also perfect to cover up your bad hair days or in between washes. Find out our seven best travel hat styles to bring on your next trip!
7 Best Travel Hat Styles
Written By: Niki Landry
Panama
I’ve been drawn to panama hats lately, and the masculine feel they give to my outfits. I already own a paper one for the summer, and I’m tempted to purchase a felt one similar to the one below. It would be great on a camping trip, and I’m considering bringing one to my next National Park vacation. Really anyplace where you are headed outdoors into nature, and even in cities with a laid back vibe. I would naturally pair the felt hat with a plaid shirt and denim.
You’ll want to look your best when you travel! Read my travel tips to Pack Light Stylishly!
Fedora
Everyone should own at least one fedora. It’s the go to hat for most travelers making them one of the best travel hat styles – it pairs well with almost anything. Straw for tropical destinations or felt for the winter, you can’t go wrong with a fedora. The feather embellishment on the one below is a nice change from a typical ribbon band, and taupe is the perfect neutral.
Wide Brim
A glamorous poolside hat is a must for any beach or resort vacation. This wide brim hat doesn’t just look great it’s also functional. Sun protection is so important and most people aren’t diligent about reapplying sunscreen. A wide brim hat will give you an extra layer to keep your face and skin protected.
Cloche
A ladylike style that will add glamour to your ensemble. You can find them with bows, flowers, buckles, or feathers depending on your preference. Bring them on trips to stylish cities, especially in the winter to keep you warm and toasty.
Baseball
Everyone loves a baseball cap, and it’s an icon of American style. Instead of sporting your favorite brand or team, opt for something a little more stylish. Pick an interesting material like wool, linen, or tweed. The quilted style below is a smart detail on a solid color.
Flatcap
I’m a big fan of a flatcap to top off casual outfits. I own three and was so close to purchasing another on my recent trip to Ireland. They are easy to pack inside your packing cubes, and similar to the panama I like the masculine edge they add to my look. Look for chambray and cotton in the warmer months and plaid and tweed in the fall and winter. These definitely top our best travel hat list!
Beanie
Beanies are a must for cold weather destinations. Ears get cold and you lose heat through your head. This striped version with pom would be a fun addition to your ski outfit. Lighter and open knit styles are good for sightseeing in warmer locales.
Packing
Even though they are great for travel, hats aren’t always the easiest to pack. Packable options are out there, but are not always in line with my needs and style preferences. Unstructured hats like the flatcap can easily be laid flat but a panama would be much more difficult. Most travelers solve this problem by wearing them when they travel. Others stuff the interior with items like socks or underwear and pad the crown with clothing.
More Travel Hats
What do you think is the best travel hat? Please share it below!
For more travel accessories, please read:
- Cute Travel Sandals: The Unexpected Style I Fell in Love With
- Joggers for Women: Don’t Miss this Travel Fashion Trend
- Fashion Sneakers for Women: 5 Reasons Why They’re Cute Comfortable Shoes for Travel
- 12 Cute Backpacks for Travel You’ll Want to Wear Everywhere
Hope you liked this post on the best travel hat styles. Please share with your friends on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
Author Bio: Niki is an interior designer and artist from Louisiana. In addition to her design work, she writes for local and online publications sharing her experiences and passion for travel. Niki is currently adding stamps to her passport while building her design practice, Niki Landry Designs. nikilandry.com nikilandrydesigns niki-landry-designs-llc
I love the fedora & baseball hat, just my style. I got a fedora for my last cruise and followed lots of your tips. Thanks. <3 TFG
Glad you found them useful Lisa 🙂
I LOVE the fedora in the top photo (girl w/ backpack and binoculars) – where is it from? Thanks!
This one is a stock photo so we don’t know the location of that hat, but check out number two on the list for similar ideas 🙂
I always take my straw fedora when I go south but I wish I could find a good looking Packable hat. Any suggestions?
Hi Jeanie, here are a few cute packable fedoras:
http://amzn.to/1SpFYcE
http://amzn.to/1UwesOy
http://amzn.to/1UQVQbI
Hope you like them!
I’ve been taking my straw fedora with me when I go south, but it would be easier to find a good looking Packable hat. Any suggestions?
While I agree you absolutely need to wear a hat in the sun, finding a packable hat for summer climates isn’t that easy! Any suggestions?
Hi Jeanie, great question! Here’s a list we’ve put together for an upcoming article:
Packable Hats
http://amzn.to/1SpFYcE
http://amzn.to/1UwesOy
http://amzn.to/1UQVQbI
http://amzn.to/1UwfIl0 in white
http://amzn.to/1LT2vQ2 in natural black
http://amzn.to/1SpHqMq in tan
http://amzn.to/1LT2ziR in red
http://amzn.to/1PzGkJf in white/black
http://amzn.to/1LT2HyQ in white (polka dot)
http://amzn.to/1Rz7nsw in black
http://amzn.to/1VPwIBC in black
http://amzn.to/1VPwHOj
http://amzn.to/1LT2VGa in navy
http://amzn.to/1LT2YSp in khaki
http://amzn.to/1Rz7x3d in chocolate
http://amzn.to/1UW0DHD in black/white
Enjoy!
I found a stall in the market of the MBK mall in Bangkok that sold natural cotton canvas hats in half a dozen styles. I bought a wide-brimmed one with a bow that has been wonderful for beach and sun travel. Because it’s all cotton I can pack it easily and clean off stains or marks, and I get lots of compliments. It keeps the sun out of my eyes, but doesn’t necessarily block the rays. I wish there were more posh, packable hats like this!
I also found a packable hat I absolutely love and still wear years later. I bought it on Khao San Rd 🙂
M&S have a lovely wool fedora hat – in black, navy and deep olive-green. I love ’em! M&S sale, here I come, haha! (Oh, and they’re about £30 each, by the way)
Thanks for the tip!
I have a cotton crocheted sunhat, with a wide brim that has a thin plastic rim inside to hold the shape of the brim, keeping it from being too floppy. It packs flat, since the crocheted crown just sort of compresses.
It comes with a little floral pin for embellishment, but I periodically change it to something from the countries we visit. A fake frangipani in Samoa, a madras flower in Antigua, things like that.
It goes with everything but winter clothes. For warmth, I have an alpaca beanie in my cold weather packing cube. Takes up less space than a pair of socks.
I just bought a big floppy sunhat too and it’s crushable, love it! Beanies and crochet style hats have always been a staple in my winter wardrobe. Hats are one accessory that completely changes a look.
I always wear a hat for day wear; but, for travel, my go to topper is a beige, packable Columbia Booney. It’s a sun-shielding/water-resisting wide brimmer with an adjustable toggle strap. I like the wide brim for UPF 50 sun protection and to keep the rain off my eyeglasses and face. I also like having the adjustable strap to keep the hat on my head in case of wind. When traveling, my hands are usually busy with luggage, camera, or totes so it’s is nice not having to worry about losing my hat in a sudden gust. If I’m indoors, I merely push it backward and it lays on my back with the strap hanging around my neck. I’m not apt to leave it behind like I’ve done with other hats. It’s functional, nice looking, and works well for me.
I also try to always pack a comfortable hat in the heat. It’s good to have that extra layer of protection between you and the sun!